Electric card counter



June 9, 1936. c. D. LAKE 2,043,295

ELECTRIC CARD COUNTER Filed Oct 7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1936. c. D. LAKE 2,043,295

ELECTRIC CARD COUNTER Filed Oct. 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 163\\\ hi-- If;8 m 72 7 Q Q Q 5, I51 iiir 2a 63 n49 148 l E TOR l Ai'TORNEY June 9, 1936. c DjLAKE 2,043,295

ELECTRIC CARD COUNTER Filed Oct. 7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 27 FIG] 42% $2122? /WwaZW ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CARD COUNTER poration of New York Application October I, 1932, Serial No. 638,663

Claims. (cl. 235-02) This invention relates to card controlled machines and more particularly refers to machines for sorting cards, such, for instance, as those used to control the operation of tabulating machines of the well-known Hoilerith tm.

The cards have index points of perforations thereon, the exact location" of the perforation on the card determining the value and character of the information interpreted therefrom when the card is passed a suitable tabuiatiug machine.

The function of the sorting machine, preferably of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,741,985 issued December 31st. 1929 to E. A. Ford, is to sort and classify into groups a promiscuous stack of cards as desired by the operator for the purpose of more readily permitting analyzation of the index point on the card. g

The cards are sorted electrically, that is", as the cards are fed through the sorting machine, a sensing device finds the index point and completes an electrical circuit to select one of a plurality of receptacles or pockets into which the card is to be deposited.

After an indeterminate number of cards, or groups of cards have been sorted, it is desirable to ascertain the exact number of cards sorted into each group, as' well as the total number of cards sorted. I am aware that counting devices have been provided to count the number of cards as they are deposited in each individual receptacle. Such counting devices are usually located proximately to the receptacles and require considerable time to read and to note the amount standing thereon.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to, provide a novel counter mechanism for a card sorting machine wherein the counters are arranged in a compact unit.

Another object is to provide a novel card counting mechanism to count the cards having a plurality of designations as they are analyzed.

A further object is to provide a novel electrically operated card counter adapted to be located remotely from the card receptacle and which may be located remotely from the sorter.

Another object is to provide a plurality of card counters with novel means simultaneously to reset all, or a selective number of said counters to zero.

With these and incidental objects in view, the mechanism includes certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

In said drawings: 5

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of several of the counters with the casing broken away for clearnes.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken just inside the casing or cabinet on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the reset mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the reset clutch for the grand total counter. The view being an enlargement of the lower right hand portion of Fig. l and showing parts in section to more clearly show the details of the mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the aligner for the grand total reset gear and the aligner for the grand total lever.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-4, Fig. 1.

Fi 6 is a view in end elevation of the sorter showing the drive for the commutators and distributor drive.

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of the sorter, to-

'gether'with a portion of the sorting mechanism.

Before proceeding with the description of the invention, a brief description of the sorting machine will be given. In a sorting machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent, the sorting of the record cards is accomplished through the medium of a sorting magnet Ii under the control of a brush relay Ill, brush 22 and receives an impulse from a source II as soon as a hole in the card is encountered.

The end of tongues 24 are spring urged downwardly on an armature 23, so that during the card analyzing cycle, the record card is entered between the ends of the tongues 24 and the arma-. ture 23, with the result that on the energization 40 of the sorting magnets ll only as many tongues 24 are lowered by the armature as do not overlie the record card, while the remaining tongues 24 are held in raised position by the card. For this purpose, there is provided a fixed bar 26, parallel to, and on a level with the armature 23 in its normal position. The bar 26 is arranged to support the record card after the armature is lowered.

According to the point of time at which the energization of the sorting magnet H occurs, the armature 23, upon whiclr th'ejendsofztheatenghes 24 of theguide plates leading to the card receiving pockets 25 rest, determines the destination of the card being analyzed. It may be mentioned that the time of energization of the sorting magnets depends upon the position of the hole in the card column, each of which has twelve index point positions, so that the card may be guided selectively into any one of twelve sorting pockets 25.

The downward movement of the armature 23 produces an aperture between the last tongue to the left Fig. 7 restrained by the card and the last tongue to the right bearing downwardly with the armature 23 by an inherent spring tension, into which aperture a record card is moved and then guided into the selected pocket by the usual feed rollers 21. I

If there are no perforations present in the par-' ticular card column being analyzed, the magnets II will not be energized and the cards will pass beneath all of the tongues 24 and will be guided to a thirteenth pocket 25R, known as the "reject pocket. The card feeding mechanism com- 33 are energized by depressing a start key, thus closing contacts S and closing a circuit from the negative side of the source I1, wire 34, stop key contacts ST, start key contact 8, relay 35, relays 33 and 32, wire 35 and backto the positive side of the source II.

A relay 38 wired in series with contact 39 adapted to be operated by a card lever 40, is energized as long as cards are being fed through the machine. Energization of the relay 39 attracts its armature, closing contacts 45, thus establishing a holding circuit around the start key to obviate the necessity of holding the start key depressed during the entire operation of the machine.

After the last card has passed thebrushes 22 and the card lever contacts 39 have opened, or after the stop key contacts ST have been opened the relays 35, 32 and 33 are deenergized, resulting in opening the motor circuits from the source II, thus bringing the machine to rest.

In order to secure proper operation of the sorting machine, it is necessary that the sorting magnets I I remain energized from the moment at which energization takes place until the last index point position in the card-column has passed from beneath the analyzing brush 22. The winding of the brush relay III is connected in series with the sorting magnet II and is energized therewith as soon as a hole is encountered in the card column analyzed and corresponding to the adjustment of the contact segments I2 of a commutator I3.

There are twelve segments I2 on the commutator I3 and the segments successively wipe by a brush I4 connected through contacts I5, normally closed contacts 9 and a wire I6 to a common brush I 3 of the roller 3I. A common brush l9 rests on a metallic portion 41 which serves as a ring of the commutator I3, the portion 41 being electrically connected to a segment portion 48, with which cooperates a brush 49. This brush is connected through contacts 50 of the brush controlled relay III, a relay 45, a wire 5| and a relay 52 to the source IT. The brush I9 is connected by a wire 53, relay III, sorter magnets I I and a switch 54 to' the positive source IT. The commutator I3 is synchronized with the passage of the card winding of relay 52, relay 45, contacts 50, brush 49, segment portion 43, ring portion 41, brush I9, relay III, sorter magnets II, switch 54 and back to-source I1, thus maintaining the magnets II energized until all of the remaining index points have passed the card brush 22.

Energization of the sorting magnets I I through the holding segment 43 would impart impulses through the sorting distributor I3 to a counter mechanism presently to be described, if the circult to the brush It were left closed. This would result in wrong totals on the counters. This effect is overcome by opening the contacts I5 by energization of the relay 52 when the holding circuit for the sorting magnets is formed.

The counters The foregoing is a brief description of the operation of the sorters in connection with which the counting mechanism, now to be described, is adapted to be used.

An individual counter is provided for each card pocket there being, as set forth above, I3 pockets including the reject pocket. In addition to the counter for the card pockets, a grand total counter and a sub-total counter are provided. The counters for the individual card pocket are actuated as the card destined for a particular pocket passes the card brush 22. The reject counter adds "1 as each rejected card passes the card brush, the grand total and sub-total counters are both actuated to add "1, as each card bearing a punched hole in the column being analyzed passes the card brush.

A reset mechanism is provided simultaneously to reset all of the counters except the grand total counter which, as is hereinafter described, is normally disconnected from the universal resetting mechanism, to which it maybe coupled at will.

The counters are of the well-known Veeder type, each counter being mounted on a sub-base 55 (Fig. 5) between a pair of field coils or magnets 55 supported by brackets 51 secured to the sub-base 55. Poles 55 are secured to the armature ends of the magnets between which poles an armature 59 secured to a countershaft 60 is adapted to operate under the influence of the magnets 55 when energized. All of the counters are alike and are mounted in two rows, the sub-bases 55 being mounted on a plate 5|, supported on cross-bars 52, which in turn are secured on a bracket 53.

The counters are encased in a cabinet 55 through sight opening in which cabinet the reading lines of the counters are visible.

The bracket 53 carrying the entire counter mechanism is pivotally supported on a rod 1|, mounted in brackets I2, only one of which is shown (Fig.6) secured to the sorter frame proper. Brackets 13 also secured to the sorter frame are provided with concentric slots 14 adjustably to support the counter frame 83. By this construction, it is obvious that the counters may be adjusted to any position within the limits of the slot I4.

The oscillatory movement of the armature 53,

and consequently of the countershaft 00, is limited in both directions by adjustable stops 44, one secured on top of the left hand pole (Fig. 5) and one secured to the bottom of the right hand pole. Obviously, energization of the magnets and their poles 50 attracts the ends of armature 50 rotating said armature and the shaft 00 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, until the armature strikes the lower stops 54. "This movement of the shaft 00 is sufficient to advance the units wheel one step.

Energization of the magnet 54 is accomplished in the following described manner: When the machine is set in operation bydepressing the start key, as set forth above, I feeding a card through the machine, the card strikes a card lever 11 (Fig. '1) closing contacts 10, thus, closing a circuit through contacts 10, a brush 10, commutator 00, a brush 0|, a card lever set-up relay 02, through wire 03 to source I1. Energization of the relay 02 closes relay contacts 04, thus establishing a holding circuit around the card lever contacts "through the contacts 04, a. brush 05, commutator 00, a brush 31, winding of relay 02, wire 03 to source I1. Closing tho contacts 04 also makes a circuit through these contacts, a wire 00., to thecard brush 22, thence through the roller 3i, brush I0, wire I0, a switch 03, wire 00 to the usual distributor 30. The distributor 35 is of a well-known type and is rotated in synchronism with the passage of the card by the brush 22, so that as a hole punched in the card column being analyzedpasses the brush 22, current is supplied through the circuits just described to the distributor 05, which through one of a series of wires 31, energizes a particular counter magnet 55, corresponding to the position of the index point or perforation on the card.

The circuit through the magnet 56 is completed through a brush 30, a particular commutator segment 33 on a holding commutator I00, through a common ring II, a brush I02, thence to the source I1. When the wire 01 is energized, as above described, a relay I03 is also energized closing its contacts I04, thus establishing a holding circuit through the magnet as follows: From the source I1 through the winding of a relay I05, a wire I05 common to all of the contacts I04,- the selected contacts I04, counter magnets 50, thence throughthe holding commutator and its brushes to the other -side of the source II.

The holding commutator I00 is rotated in synchronism with the passage of the card by the card brush 22, and the individual segment 39 is of sufllcient length to hold the counter magnets 55 energized long enough to complete their adding function.-

In addition to supplying current to the distributor 35, the impulse through a hole in the card also energizes the sorting magnets II over the following circuit: Negative line I1, contacts 84, wire 00, brush 22, roll 3|, brush l0, wire I5, contacts 3, contacts I5,'brush I4, brush I3, wire 53, magnet I0, sorter magnets II, switch 54 to positive line I1. Energization of magnet I0 closes contacts 50 to establish .the previously described holding circuit for the sorter magnets II.

It was stated above, that when no hole is punched in the card column being analyzed, the card passes beneath all of the tongues 24, and into the reject pocket 25R. When this occurs no energy is supplied to the distributor, since no hole passes the card brush 22, for which reason other means is provided to count the cards sorted into the reject pocket. when the card lever contacts 33 are closed and no hole passes beneath the card brush 22, the circuit is set up through a reject counter magnet I01 (Fig. 7) through a brush I00, commutator I03, brush I I0, a switch III, contacts II2, through the reject counter 5 magnet I01, through a line I I3 to source. This energizes the reject counter magnets to advance the reject counters one step for each card sorted into the reject pocket.

However, if a hole is encountered in the card 10 column being analyzed, it is desired to energize sub-total magnets II4 in order to advance this counter one step. This is accomplished in the following manner:

As was stated above, when the counter mag- 15 nets 50 are energized, the relay I03 is also energized setting up a circuit through a relay I05. This closes the contact I2I'and sets up a circuit through contacts I 2i, relays I22 and I23, through wire I24 back to source. Energization of the relay I22 closes its contact I 25, thus establishing a circuit through brush I25, commutator I21, brush I20 to the contacts I25, relays I22 and I23 and back to source. Energization of the relay I23 closes its contacts I 29, thus establishing a circuit through brush I30, commutator I3I, brush I32, contacts I29, a relay I33, relay I34, wire I35 and back to source. Energization of the relay I33 closes its contacts I36, thus establishing a holding circuit through brush I31, holding com- 30.

mutator I30, brush I33, contacts I35, relays I33 and I34, wire I35 and back to source.

Energization of the relay I34 opens the contacts I I2 to the reject counter magnets and closes the center contact H2 and the goose-neck contact I40, thus opening the circuit to the reject counter and making a circuit through contacts 39, brush I00, commutator I09, brush IIO, switch I II, contacts H2 and I40 through the sub-total magnets II4 through wire I46 to source. gization of the magnets II4 controls addition of one on the sub-total counter.

The total counter is provided to count the total of all cards run through the machine whether or not there is a hole punched in the particular 45 column being analyzed.

The grand total counter is operated by magnets II5 (Fig. '7) under the control of the card lever 40. As a card passes the lever 40 said lever closes the contacts 39 establishing a circuit 50 through a brush II5, a holding commutator I I1,

a brush IIO, magnets II5, wire II9 to source I1. Thus the magnets I I5 are energized as each card passes the card lever 40, to add one on the ground total counter.

The contacts 39 are not closed until one card cycle later than the cycle during which the index points on the card are sensed. This is necessarj in order to provide for sensing all of the index points on the card in order to determine whether the cards should be rejected or passed into one of the selected pockets.

The commutators 00, 05, I21, I3I, I30 and I03 are secured on a shaft I41 (Fig. 6) rotatably mounted in suitably supported frames I43 and 5 I49. The shaft I41 is rotated by a usual drive shaft I5I, (Fig. 6) having a worm gear I50 secured thereto and meshing with a gear I52 on a picker shaft I53. A gear I54 secured to the shaft I53 meshes with the gear I55 on a shaft 70 I55, which gear I55 meshes with a gear I51 secured on the shaft I41. The shaft I5I through the train of gears just described rotates the shaf I41 and the commutators one complete rotatio. at each card cycle of the machine. 5

Ener- 4 The holding commutators I86 bearing the elongated segments 99 is mounted on a vertical shaft I68 suitably supported in the machine having secured thereto near its upper end a gear I68 which also meshes with the worm gear I66 on the shaft I6I.'

The distributor 96 is mounted at the upper end of the shaft I68 and is adapted to be rotated thereby. The shaft I68 is given one complete rotation at each card cycle of the machine, thus rotating the holding commutator I66 and the armature for the distributor 96 one complete rotation at each card cycle of the machine.

Resetting mechanism Mechanism is provided to reset all of the counters simultaneously. Each of the counters is provided with the reset shaft I66 upon which is secured a gear I6I meshing with the gear I62 secured on one of a pair of universal reset shafts I63 rotatably mounted in brackets I66 secured to the frame 63. Two shafts, I63, are provided, one for the upper row of counters and one associated with the lower row of counters as viewed in Figure 1. Gear I65 secured to the right hand end, as viewed in Fig. l, of the shaft I63 meshes with an intermediate gear I66 rotatably mounted on a stud carried by a bracket I61. A manually operable crank I68 is secured to the lower gear I66 (Fig. 1) to provide a convenient means to reset all of the counters to zero simultaneously. The ratio of the gears I62 and I6I is two to one, consequently, requiring one-half of one rotation of the crank I68 to impart a full rotation to the reset shaft I66. These counters are well known and it is understood that their reading may be restored to zero by the turning of their shaft for one complete revolution. It is believed to be unnecessary to show the details of construction of these counters here. These details may be found in U. S. Patent No. 1,370,540, dated March 8, 1921.

The resetting mechanism is normally locked against operation and before the counters may be reset to zero, it is necessary for the operator to rock a lever I68, (Fig. 2) rotatably mounted on a stud I69 in the bracket I61 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, to remove a stud I10 on the lower end of the lever I66 from a notch in the periphery of a disc "I, secured to the gear I65 to which the crank I66 is secured. As soon as the stud I16 is clear of the notch, the crank I68 may be rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, to reset all of these counters to zero.

Provision is made to prevent energization of the counter magnets while the counters are being reset to zero. This preventative means includes a pair of contacts I12 suitably supported on the bracket I61. Clockwise operation of the lever I68 brings the lower end of said lever into contact with the block of insulation I13 carried on the lower end of one of the contact carrying switch blades, thus opening the contacts I12. The contacts I12 are wired in series with the energy source, consequently, when opened by operation of the lever I 68' (Fig. 2) prevents energization of the sorting and counting mechanism.

It was stated above that the resetting mechanism for the grand total counter is normally disconnected from the reset shaft I63 associated therewith and may be connected herewith at will, in order to reset the grand total counter simultaneously with the remaining counters. The gear I62 associated with the grand-total counter resetting mechanism is loosely mounted on the shaft I63. A hole I16 in the gear I 62 is normally held in alignment with a stud I16 carried on a clutch member I16 by a spring retainer I11 mounted on one of the cross bars 62. The retainer I11 normally engages a notch in an aligning disc I18 secured to the side of the gear I62. The clutch member I16 is slidably mounted on the shaft I63, and is made to rotate with said shaft by the usual key I19 (Fig. 4).

In order to enter the stud I16 into the hole I14 in the gear I62, thus coupling the clutch member to the gear, a lever I86 is provided. The lower end of the lever I66 is bifurcated and straddles the free end of one arm I88 of a bell crank pivotally supported on the bar 62.

The other arm I88 of the bell crank is embraced by an annular groove I86 in the clutch member I16. Clockwise rotation of lever I86 as viewed in Fig. 2 or downward movement in Fig. 3 rocks the bell crank I88-I89 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, sliding the clutch member I16 towards the left, thus entering the stud I15 in its hole I14 so that upon rotation of the shaft. tithe clutch member I66 and the gear I62 rotate'"in unison. As the bell crank I88I89 rocks clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, a pin I! on the arm I66 of the bell crank wipes by an angular portion of a spring retainer I62, which retainer, under its own tension moves back on the opposite side of stud I9I, thus holding the bell crank in alignment in either of its two positions.

. With the gear I 62 thus clutched to the shaft I63, the movement of the crank I68 is transmitted to the resetting gear- I6I associated with the grand total counter, thus resetting this counter to zero at the same time the remaining counters are reset to zero. When the resetting crank I68 is restored to its home position, after having been operated to reset the counters, the lever I68 is rocked counterclockwise under the influence of a restoring spring I69 moving the stud I16 into its notch in the disc I! I. At this point, the contacts I12 open under the influence of their inherent spring tension.

The coupling lever I 86 may be left in its operating position in which case the grand total counter resetting mechanism remains coupled to its drive shaft I63, thus effecting the resetting of the grand tot-alizer whenever the remaining totalizers are reset, or the operator may, by

manipulating the lever I86, cause the resetting of the grand total counters at his discretion.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the object primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described capable of operating on record cards having index points thereon, the combination of means to analyze the record card, counters corresponding to the index points, means controlled by the analyzing means and the index points to initiate an impulse, and means to prolong the impulse to operate the counters, said means comprising a separate timed commutator element for each counter, the commutator elements being adapted to maintain the impulses for all of the counters an equal length of time. a

2. In a machine of the class described capable of operating on record cards having differential index points thereon, the combination of means to analyze the record card. counters corresponding to the index points, means controlled by the analyzing means and the index points to initiate timed impulses corresponding to the index points to operate the counters, and means under the control of the impulses to increase the duration of said impulses and adapted to cause the impulses for all of the counters to endure an equal length of time.

3. In a machine of the class described capable of operating on record cards having control points thereon, the combination of means to analyze the cards, means to selectively distribute the cards according to a plurality of designations, a counter for each designation, means controlled by the analyzing means to initiate an electrical impulse to control an operation of the corre-' sponding counter, and means to prolong the impulse to complete operation of the counter and adapted to cause such impulses to endure for an equal duration of time.

4. In a machine 01' the class described capable of operating on record cards having control points thereon, the combination of means to analyze the cards, means to selectively distribute thecards according to a plurality of designations, a counter for each designation, means controlled by the analyzing means to initiate an, electrical impulse to initiate an operation of the corresponding counters, means responsive to said impulse to establish an operating circuit, and means to cause an equal duration of all such circuits.

5. In a machine of the class described capable of operating on a record card having contra points thereon, the combination of means to analyze the control points, means to selectively distribute the cards according to the location of the control points, a counter for each control point, means controlled by the analyzing means and the control points to initiate an electrical impulse to initiate an operation oi! the corresponding counter, means responsive to said impulse to establish an operating circuit, and a commutator having a series of elongated segments thereon to cause the duration of the operating circuit for all oi! the counters to be the same.

CLAIR D. LAKE. 

